When I was getting the training to be a advocate, one of the thing that they told us was there is not a one policy, state or federal when it come down to intervention and the crisis of restraining.

Developing knowledge of the effects of trauma & distress is essential. children in distress often feel very vulnerable and show trauma symptoms of hyperarousal, their fight or flight responses are activated. The school system needs to evaluate there own restrain policy & teach the school staff new procedure in dealing with your child's behaviors. The school must deal with each child as a individual case. Each child's Welfare , Safety, Security, & Care, should be adhered too. Prevention and focusing on his/ her disruptive behaviors should be managed in a safe way for the student & all the staff involved.

The Invasion of personal space must be taken with sensitivity & care. Children who have been abused or traumatized are particularly sensitive to invasion, regardless of the intentions of the teacher toward the child. The child will react in a difensive or aggresive manner. The school MUST know and learn how to de-ecalulate a situation before it get's out of hand or worst.

You as a parent can ask and request for the chool to have a school personal train in a (Nonviolent crisis intervention training program) for your child. If the school does not want to participate in such a training You may call your super intendent in your school to adress your childs crisis. Send and share this request in (writting) with your Special ED Dep, & your lawyer. or have your lawyers review the schools restraining policies to see how he may addrees this issue. Alway keep and have a copy for you self. This is your proof that you have tried to work it out with your childs school.

It is important to remember that regardless of good intentions, many children have trauma history in which touch is perceived as a physical threat. Touch should not be used when this is the case. It is our/ or the school responsibility to understand what chidren are communicating through their behaviors, to think about how to respond, and to use the right intervention to help your child individualy with his/ her Welfare, Safety , and Security when providing restraining intervention.

Unless the child is causing any safety imminent risk to HIMSELF, TEACHERS, OTHERS, Or Staff MEMBERS, restraint should BE ONLY used AS A LAST RESULT. or intervention. Staff should ALWAYS attempt less restrictive alternatives first and continue less restrictive alternatives to control the child's behaviors.

There is no behavior that automatically warrents restraints. Most often,dangerous behaviors can be interrupted WITH OUT RESTRAINT. This does not minimize the seriouness of VIOLENT BEHAVIOURS. in this case consequences, Opologies given Restrictions MAY be apply. Yet the school is ALWAYS obligated to continue to assess and TRY LESS RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVES.

Examples of less restrictives alternative to restraint include, but not limited to :

1-Ventilation of feelings
2-Deep breathing or muscle relaxatio
3-Journaling or drawing
4-Physical separation of the child from the conflict situation , or separation of the peers or staff involved from the child
5= Activitys subtitution:
1-Exercise
2-running
3-Throwing a ball
4-Drumming

Soothing tech like:
1- Listening to to music
2-Listening to a story
3-Curling up in a safe place
4-Rolling up in a blaket
5-Reading, wrting, Drawing
6-Communication Empathy, Patience, & Respect
7-Redirection toward other activities
8-Suggestion: use of a quite room/Time out

Last edited by mom from mass on Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:50 am, edited 2 times in total.

I was wondering what qualifies as a restraint. How about when my son refuses to clean up and they physically "make him." They call it "motoring him through it." Or if they pick him up and make him go to the next place he is supposed to go... is that a restraint?

As long as it is alway done in a safe and in a secure manner. They can help by redirecting him as they explain the action, the reasons why he needs to clean up. If they pick him up, find out why they are doing this. If it is done with care & gently is not considered restrain, but they should not be picking him up either way . This process will not help him to learn the proper process of the next step in his daily routine in class.

We are three parents who have had serious concerns regarding safety issues inside the public schools our children attend. Our children have been diagnosed with autism, they have been enrolled in early intervention programs since their diagnosis.

Of course like good parents we want what is best for our children. We want our kids to have a safe learning environment, free from harm. We want the least restrictive environment, the same opportunities for social interaction as any other student. We want our children to not be bullied at school, especially by those entrusted to take care of them.

Because bullying exists, because retaliation is a part of some schools administrative practices we wish to remain anonymous. Identifying us, identifies our kids. We hope you understand.